Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
DIY Wind Car
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
DIY Wind Car is a free printable building activity for children of all ages. Its introduction says children learn about the science of wind while working on fine motor skills at the same time.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages. Page 2 is for the grown up and has notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, and a stretch idea.
What is on the sheet
The sheet introduces a wind car build. Its introduction says children learn about the science of wind and practise fine motor skills at the same time. Beyond that, the ideas on this page are our own suggestions. Children can design a small car, give it something to catch the wind, then test it and talk about what happened. We suggest they change one thing at a time and try again.
Our suggestions for building and testing
Choose a light body
A small card box or a piece of stiff card works well. Light things move more easily in the wind. An adult should cut any thick card or box.
Wheels that turn freely
Round lids or card circles on a straw axle can work. The axle should spin inside a slightly wider straw. An adult should trim any sharp ends.
Add a sail
Fix a flat piece of paper or light cloth upright on the body. Try a bigger sail and a smaller one and see what changes.
Test it fairly
Mark a start line and use the same gentle puff or the same card fan each time. Measure how far the car goes with a ruler or by counting hand spans.
Why build a wind car?
Wind is moving air. Air is all around us, but we cannot see it, so we notice wind by what it does. It moves leaves, flags and washing on a line. People have used wind for a very long time to sail boats and to turn windmills. A wind car uses the same idea. Something that catches moving air gets pushed along.
Fine motor skills are the small, careful movements of the hands and fingers. Holding, folding, threading and fixing all need them. Building a model gives plenty of practice. Testing and changing a design also fits the National Curriculum for England, in working scientifically in science and in the design, make and evaluate strands of design and technology.
Adults should do any cutting with scissors or sharp tools, and any trimming of sharp ends. Do not use a hot glue gun with children. Use tape or a child safe glue. Test the car with gentle puffs or a hand held card fan, and keep it away from faces.
Wind facts for children
- Wind is air that is moving.
- Sailing boats use sails to catch the wind.
- Windmills and wind turbines are turned by the wind.
- A windsock shows which way the wind is blowing.
- Land yachts are wheeled vehicles that are pushed along by a sail.
Skills and curriculum link
- Fine motor control
- Designing and making
- Testing ideas
- Fair testing
- Observing and describing
- Talking about science
Ideas to share with your child
- Wind pushesMoving air can push on things in its way. A car with something for the air to push against can be moved along.
- Size mattersA bigger flat surface catches more air than a small one. Children can test this with two different sails.
- Smooth turningWheels that turn easily let a car roll further. Wheels that rub or stick make it harder to move.
- Fair testChange one thing at a time, such as the sail size. Keep everything else the same so you know what made the difference.
Key words
- WindAir that is moving.
- SailA flat piece of material that catches the wind and gets pushed.
- AxleThe rod that a pair of wheels turns on.
- Fair testA test where only one thing is changed each time.
- PredictionA guess about what will happen, made before you test.
- Fine motor skillsSmall, careful movements of the hands and fingers.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for the notes on how to use the sheet, the help ideas and the stretch idea.
- Read the introduction together. Ask what your child already knows about wind and how it moves things.
- Gather simple materials from home, such as card, straws, paper and tape. An adult does any cutting.
- Let your child design and build the car in their own way. Ask them to predict how far it will go before they test it.
- Test the car, talk about what happened, then change one thing and test again.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Keep the design simple. Use a small box as the body and one paper sail. Build it together, with the child doing the folding and taping. Test on a smooth floor. If the car does not move, ask what could catch more air.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to design a car that goes further than their first one. They change one thing at a time, such as sail size or wheel type, and record each test. Then they explain which change helped most and why.
Make it a game
Hold a wind car race. Each child builds a car, then everyone uses a card fan from the same start line. Measure how far each car goes. Swap ideas, rebuild, and race again to see who improves most.
Talk about it
- What do you think will make the car move?
- Can you see the wind? How do you know it is there?
- Why did you choose that sail shape?
- What happened when you changed one thing?
- Which part of the car was hardest to make?
- What would you do differently next time?
Take it off the page
Wind watch
Go outside on a breezy day. Look for things the wind moves, such as leaves, flags and washing. Talk about which way the wind is blowing.
Paper sail boat
Make a small boat from card or a foam tray with a paper sail. Test it in a washing up bowl with a gentle puff. An adult stays with water play.
Windsock
Make a simple windsock from a strip of paper or ribbon on a stick. Hold it up outside and see which way it points.
Who it is for
Parents
Let your child lead the design and help only when asked. Do the cutting yourself and let them do the folding and taping. Take time over testing. Talking about what happened is as useful as the finished car.
Teachers
Use it in a science or design and technology lesson on forces, air or making models. Children can work in pairs, test fairly and evaluate their cars. Provide pre cut materials so the focus stays on the design and testing.
Home educators
Use it as a hands on project in a topic about weather or wind. Spread the build and testing over more than one session. Children can keep a simple record of each change and the result.
Where this fits in
Before this, children benefit from simple experiences of moving air, such as blowing on paper, feeling a breeze, or watching a feather fall. Basic cutting, folding and taping skills also help.
After this, children can explore forces and pushing in more detail, try other ways of powering a model, or move on to more careful fair tests with measuring and recording. They can also design and make other moving models.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is the DIY Wind Car for?
The introduction says it suits kids of all ages. Younger children will need an adult to cut and help with fixing. Older children can plan, build and test more independently, and record their results.
- Do I need special equipment?
Nothing special is needed. We suggest simple items from home, such as card, straws, paper and tape. The sheet text gives only an introduction, so choose materials that suit your child. Adults should do any cutting with sharp tools.
- What will my child learn?
The introduction names two things: the science of wind and fine motor skills. We also suggest talking about predicting, testing fairly and changing a design to improve it.
- Does the sheet include answers?
No answers are given, because this is a building activity. Page 2 has notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, and a stretch idea.
- How can I make it a fair test?
Change only one thing at a time, such as the sail size. Keep the start line, the surface and the way you make the wind the same each time. Measure how far the car goes.
- What if the car will not move?
Check that the wheels turn freely and that nothing rubs. Make sure the car is light and the sail is upright. Try a bigger sail. Then test again with the same gentle puff.
- Can we use it in a classroom?
Yes. It works for a science or design and technology lesson, or a topic on weather. Pre cut some materials to save time and ask children to explain what they changed and why.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.